This time last year, Fluminense was getting ready to celebrate its second Brazilian title in three years. Now, it's just fighting to avoid relegation.
Fans vandalized Fluminense's headquarters to protest after the team's most recent loss on Sunday, and many are calling for the resignation of former Brazil and Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
Fluminense fell to rival Flamengo 1-0, a result that extended its winless streak to eight matches and left the team in 16th place in the 20-team standings with five rounds left. The bottom four clubs are relegated.
Fluminense has the same 36 points as the first team inside the relegation zone, Vasco da Gama, and is safe for now only because it has a better goal difference.
Fluminense, a four-time national champion, is trying to avoid being the first defending champion to be demoted in the Brazilian league.
The loss to Flamengo, Fluminense's second consecutive and third in four matches, came after a 90th-minute own goal at the Maracana Stadium.
''It's sad because we played well again and had several chances to score,'' striker Rafael Sobis said. ''But things are not going our way. It's tough, football is not fair sometimes. We have to keep fighting, because if we lower our heads now, then it's over.''
Some fans protested by invading the team's headquarters early Monday, and local media reported that they threw trash onto one of the team's training fields, destroyed sponsors' billboards and damaged some of the cars in the parking lot, including some belonging to players.
''The fans are sad and so are we,'' Luxemburgo said. ''But it's not over yet, we have to keep working hard to get the results we need. We are still out of relegation zone and we have to make sure that we stay out in the end.''
Luxemburgo has been under pressure for quite some time. Local media reported last week that the coach was almost fired after the team's home loss to Vitoria. His dismissal seemed inevitable after the loss to Flamengo on Sunday, but the club again said it was sticking with the coach.
''The team showed improvement and it wouldn't make sense to make a change at this moment,'' club president Peter Siemsen said.
Luxemburgo, the most successful coach in the Brazilian league, said he is not considering resigning.
''I'm not going to give up,'' the 61-year-old coach said. ''If it's up to me, I'll stay until the end. I'm not going to quit. I'll keep working hard to make sure we are not relegated.''
Luxemburgo said three victories in the last five matches could be enough for Fluminense to avoid relegation. The team's next game is at Corinthians next Sunday.
One of the reasons for the team's recent struggles is the absence of Brazil striker Fred, who has been nursing a right muscle injury since September. It remains unclear if he will be available again before the end of the championship.
Fred was part of the Fluminense team that escaped relegation with a remarkable run in 2009, winning six of the last seven matches to barely remain in the top flight. The following year it won the league title, and again in 2012.
Fluminense is not the only traditional Brazilian club fighting to avoid relegation this year. In addition to rival Vasco da Gama, other teams that are in danger this year include Sao Paulo, Flamengo and club world champion Corinthians. Last year, eight-time Brazilian champion Palmeiras was relegated, although it has already secured its return next season.
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